Fall-Winter 2017 BARRON. LANGLADE Antigo. Merrill. Marinette ST. CROIX TAYLOR DUNN. CHIPPEWA Chippewa G R E E N B A Y DOOR MENOMINEE.

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1 R Falls BARRON ST. CROIX River Falls PIERCE DUNN Menomonie PEPIN CHIPPEWA Chippewa Falls Eau Claire EAU CLAIRE TAYLOR CLARK Medford Wausau MARATHON Marshfield Merrill Wisconsin River Stevens Point LANGLADE Antigo MENOMINEE SHAWANO OCONTO Marinette Green Bay G R E E N B A Y DOOR Sturgeon Bay Algoma Fall-Winter 2017

2 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR S report Building the Walla Hi Segment during the September Mobile Skills Crew event in the Walla Hi Park was exceedingly rewarding. We built sustainable trail through a gem of a park. Two more miles of tread permanently exist in Manitowoc, adding to the legacy of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. MIKE WOLLMER Executive Director OUR PARTNERS I also had the pleasure of sharing my love of trailbuilding with my ten-yearold grandson who was a member Wyatt, intently focused, learns the art of the four-step trailbuilding of my crew. Every time he emptied process from a master trailbuilder, his grandfather, Mike Wollmer. a duff bucket or trimmed brush, the Photo by Cameron Gillie of ThePinHoleThing.com. connection between him and the Trail The Ice Age Trail brought peace, relief, focus, grew as it does when fueled by the satisfaction and retreat. Use of the Trail enhanced their of doing good work. What an honor to foster lives so much, the Trail was included as part of the love of the Trail in this way and deepen the their family s healing and grieving process. For legacy of land conservation in someone of his me, and the entire Ice Age Trail family, this is generation. inspirational beyond words. Earlier in the spring, the Alliance had the honor As you can tell, this idea of leaving a mark is of working with the family of David Underwood, etched in my mind this season (it may be my a young man suffering from severe depression age!). The Ice Age National Scenic Trail is a and who ultimately took his own life. David legacy project, one enduring for almost sixty had found hiking on the Ice Age Trail helped years. To ensure the future of the Trail and bring peace and relief from his depression. As the Alliance whose mission it is to create, a result, his family chose to honor his life and support, and protect the Trail continues love for the Trail by establishing a memorial for another sixty years (and longer), our fund. It was dedicated to raising money to endowment goals must be clearly focused and permanently protect a portion of the Ice Age met. A robustly funded endowment allows a Trail through the purchase of property. David s vision like ours to live far into the future, the legacy is becoming reality. We expect to one where my grandson will be building trails, acquire a piece of land with funds from David s and beyond. Recently, I implemented a policy memorial in the near future. of directing all memorial gifts, regardless of I m incredibly struck by the way the Trail size, to the endowment. In this way, the legacy touches people s lives. I am in the unique of those who have passed, and the Trail they position of being able to have meaningful loved and found meaningful, will live on forever. conversations with the individuals who have lost someone. It is humbling enough that obituaries would include the Alliance as a memorial, but to learn from a family member just how much the Trail meant to the one who passed is even more so. The stories, while each different, also contain the same theme: 2 MAMMOTH tales Fall-Winter 2017

3 OUR mission The mission of the Ice Age Trail Alliance is to create, support, and protect a thousand-mile footpath tracing Ice Age formations across Wisconsin. ON THE COVER: Perhaps a future Thaousand-Miler, and certainly a Force of Nature, this young Mobile Skills Crew volunteer finds a way to contribute to trailbuilding. Photo by Cameron Gillie of ThePinholeThing.com. The Ice Age Trail Alliance (IATA) publishes Mammoth Tales for its members and friends. Together with the National Park Service, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, local units of government, businesses, and volunteers from around the state, the IATA works to preserve Wisconsin s glacial heritage through the development of the Ice Age National and State Scenic Trail. The IATA welcomes your comments. them to lysianne@iceagetrail.org, call us at (800) , or send them to Mammoth Tales, c/o IATA, 2110 Main Street, PO Box 128, Cross Plains, WI Editor: Lysianne Unruh 2110 Main Street PO Box 128 Cross Plains, WI (608) (p) (800) (p) (608) (f) info@iceagetrail.org Printer: Action Graphics, Butler, WI (262) Printed with soy-based ink on 10% recycled, Wisconsin-sourced paper. Designer: Lynn LaSpisa Mammoth Tales template and IATA logo design by Celtic, Inc., Brookfield, WI (262) CONTENTS 2... Executive Director s Report 4... Thousand-Miler Journals VOL. XXIX, NO. 3 FALL-WINTER 2017 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE President Marcy Kempf, Delafield, WI President Elect vacant Treasurer Maureen Skelton, Madison, WI Secretary Marilynn Nash, Weyerhaeuser, WI Vice President Development John Hutchinson, Sun Prairie, WI Vice President Leadership Development Lee Swanson, Cross Plains, WI Vice President Personnel Dolly McNulty, Two Rivers, WI Assistant Secretary Mike Wollmer, Cross Plains, WI LEADERSHIP MEMORIAL Dick Cates Joyce Erdman Cora Dversdall Ody J. Fish Warren Knowles Henry Reuss Sarah Sykes Marion Barney Viste J.J. Doc Werner John Zillmer Raymond Zillmer 6... Trail Adventures 8... Outreach and Education Highlights Trailbuilding Highlights Chapter Highlights Member and Donor News Trail Terminus DIRECTORS Rod Bartlow, Slinger, WI Debbie Cervenka, Santa Rosa Beach, FL Robert Connors, Oak Park, IL Kevin Delorey, Madison, WI Bob Funk, Whitewater, WI Robert Melzer, Sheboygan, WI James Mills, Madison, WI Carol Mueller, Madison, WI Nancy Schuster, Chippewa Falls, WI Danny Tang, Madison, WI Matt Underwood, Madison, WI DIRECTORS EMERITUS Adam Cahow Robert Cromer Tom Drought Roy Gromme Joe Jopek Dave Kinnamon Terry Kohler David Lovejoy Robert Rusch STAFF Executive Director and CEO Mike Wollmer mike@iceagetrail.org Director of Trail Operations Tim Malzhan tim@iceagetrail.org Director of Land Conservation Kevin Thusius kevin@iceagetrail.org Director of Philanthropy Luke Kloberdanz luke@iceagetrail.org Communications Coordinator Lysianne Unruh lysianne@iceagetrail.org Membership and Grants Coordinator Eric Sherman eric@iceagetrail.org Special Projects Coordinator Brad Crary brad@iceagetrail.org Trail Program Specialist Dave Caliebe dave@iceagetrail.org GIS/Technology Specialist Tiffany Stram tiffany@iceagetrail.org Administrative Assistant Jo Ellarson joanne@iceagetrail.org Philanthropic Advisor Bob Lange bob@iceagetrail.org Fall-Winter 2017 MAMMOTH tales 3

4 JACKSON PORTAGE Waupaca i er Wautoma ADAMS LA CROSSE WAUSHARA Tomah TTE pp iv MONROE QU E ssi R VID LECOUNT La Crosse JANE AND DA JUNEAU MAR ssi THOUSAND-MILER CHAPTERhighlights journals! e f i L f o n o i t a A Celebr GREEN LAKE OUTAGAMIE Appleton BROWN Kaukauna Neenah Oshkosh WINNEBAGO She FOND Fond DU LAC du Lac SHEBOYGA Platteville DODGE West Bend ING D the road toward a designated Ice Age Trail (IAT) RICHLAND R O F segment, one of 37 such trips. For four-plus AW R hours, filling our senses with staticky radio noise, C sconsin Riv Prairie du er Wi speeding traffic, and rushing sights and sounds. Chien Later, ten minutes into the woods, we encounter IOWA another world entirely, one of blissful natural marvels, soft hums and twitters, and being on GRANT nature s relaxed timeline. SAUK WA SH It s a dark 3:30 a.m., and we are heading down Portage COLUMBIA TON VERNON Baraboo Madison Germantown Whitewater Milwau Waukesha WAUKESHA MILWAUKE RACINE Pinch us and say it s real. It was a wonder to Lake LAFAYETTE Janesville Monroe Geneva hear birds continuously sing, and for animals to ROCK GREEN give us a glimpse of their daily activity. Trumpeter Beloit WALWORTH KENOSHA swans, what a treasure to witness the successful reintroduction of this once nearly extinct bird to our state. Osprey, with nests on highline poles, soar Jane and David Le Count stopped by the Ice Age Trail Alliance headquarters to turn in their Thousandhigh displaying their majestic manner. Loons so Miler application and celebrate the completion of their amazing adventure. Photo by Lysianne Unruh. serene, coveys of partridges drumming and thrusting Fitbit, pen and paper, and a daypack of trail-mix, water, Band-Aids, forward in surprise, turkeys strutting while taking rain gear, and a mosquito net. We wanted to keep it simple, relying on their sweet ole time. Woodpeckers that drummed incredible holes into ourselves and working together to determine solutions to problems we trees, leaving wood chips piled high on the ground. Frogs croaking their encountered. We averaged approximately 17+ mile days, spending 8-10 mating calls. Fat toads, feasting on the gazillion mosquitoes, while almost hours each day together, sometimes sharing our humor, reminiscing, or being trodden on. Even a baby mink that Jane nearly stepped on. When expressing consternation about where did the trail go, conditions, and David arrived, the mother was on standby, ready to pounce and protect whether a particular segment would ever end. Each time prior to hiking, her charge from imminent danger. The bear we startled while breaking we were renewed with anticipation, eagerness to explore, and also some the crest of a knoll; that burly animal was enormous. Thankfully, we must reservations. have looked pretty scary too, as it quickly lumbered away. We spotted fox, coyote, wolf, fleeting deer, and beavers enjoying ownership of small lakes. We grew up in and are lifelong residents of Wisconsin. We thought we knew a lot about our state, but this adventure provided a wealth of new We began our IAT hike April 4th, 2015, on a connector road from the Lodi information. Having traversed a U-shaped terrain over 1,200 miles, we Marsh Segment; and ended July 4th, 2017, at the Eastern Terminus. (At were astounded by the variety of topography under our feet hills, more one point, Lyme disease appeared, and we needed to pause our travels hills, and deep valleys, referenced in the IAT vernacular as hummocky for eight months.) We essentially moved west to east, in all seasons. with swales, moraines, vernal ponds, kettles, kames, drumlins, erratic s, During the winter months, we hiked only connector roads. We didn t and much more. Also, trees presented themselves in all forms and sizes; trust ourselves to always find the path with snow and ice, concerned the spectacular native white pines and oaks, along the way, are treasures. intermittent yellow rectangles, serving as beacons to guide us would be We marveled at amazing wetlands, riparian obscured. During this time, we celebrated areas, and pristine streams and ponds (many our 50th wedding anniversary and 75th without names), ferns, ground cover, beautiful birthdays. unfolding flowers. Our purpose hiking the IAT was to be Ice Age Guidebook Miles: 1,109.6 The IAT had its challenges, as it should. self-sufficient section hikers. We primarily 1, Fitbit Miles: Traveling northeast in the Kettle Moraine used two cars. We carried a Wisconsin Mile Average per Day: segments appeared to be a rollercoaster map, the IAT Guidebook and Atlas, to Segments: 112 hike valleys got deeper and deeper, and hills locate specifically the daily beginning and Full Days (Greater than 4:30 hrs): 63 became steeper and steeper. Hiking east from ending locations for parking. We used no Half Days (Equal or Less than 4:30): 7 the Western Terminus to Antigo, we discovered Car Trips from Home to IA Trail: 37 GPS device or phone and used a compass the IAT Guidebook words hummocky IA Trail Memories: Many once. We carried the Guidebook along with and beaver to perhaps be euphemisms copies of the needed Atlas pages, camera, Grand Totals: 4 MAMMOTH tales Fall-Winter 2017 Port Washi Oconomowoc JEFFERSON DANE MANI OZAUKEE Wisconsin Rapids CALUMET Mi TREMPEA BUFFALO Ra Ken

5 r KEWAUNEE Chien JEFFERSON IOWA DANE GRANT HIG AN Manitowoc ITOWOC Platteville for prepare yourself for a challenge. eboygan MIC Whitewater Milwaukee Waukesha WAUKESHA MILWAUKEE RACINE LAFAYETTE Monroe GREEN Janesville ROCK Beloit Lake Geneva WALWORTH KENOSHA Racine Kenosha another trip based on her good information! The Mondeaux Esker Segment WOW what a trip! Our adventure proved the most difficult. The of hiking, stumbling, wading, west side, where it parallels mud wrestling with the trail, and the flowage, was wonderful. barefooting through tall wet grasses. However, the east side is We ended on July 4th at the Eastern ington another story altogether with Terminus marker in Potawatomi its overgrown bushes; large State Park, Door, with our rocks we stumbled over, as son Darren joining to celebrate and they were not visible; roots, and mark the occasion. Hiking the IAT ukee mud (Jane stepped in what she has been a meaningful milestone, thought was a safe place, and full of challenges, excitement, EE instantly sunk literally to midexhilaration, exhaustion, and in the thigh in mud a scary time). end, a feeling of accomplishment. acine Another unfavorable segment We concluded how much we loved was Clover Valley where the each other s companionship and nosha Jane stops to pay homage to a mammoth oak tree along the Eagle Segment in mosquitoes were having a renewed our ongoing relationship Waukesha. Photo by David LeCount. reunion and we provided their every step of the way. food/drink. Lucky for us, this was a short segment. High appreciation to the dreamers and founders of the IAT. Thank you We also marveled at the kindness of people, who answered our to all staff and volunteers working to sustain and upgrade the Trail. You questions, and offered suggestions and encouragement. A remarkable helped make our IAT adventure come to life. Our lives are a little fuller, example of this was Ruby Jaecks, IAT volunteer, and Northwoods Chapter having added to our memorable experiences, and strengthened the Coordinator, who left a note at the entrance to the Averill-Kelly Creek attributes contributing to our resilience. A thank you to private land owners Wilderness Segment saying the trail was closed due to high water in permitting passage across their land (sometimes posting humorous signs, the New Wood River. As we read the note, Ruby appeared, wet up to or even making a corn maze for hikers to enjoy), donors to the Ice Age Trail her waist, saying she had just tried to cross the river and it was still not Alliance, and to Wisconsin for proudly hosting a National Scenic Trail (all accessible. As a result, we waited two weeks, called Ruby, and made within one state) as part of the National Park System. LAK E AN David LeCount gamely takes on the Plover River crossing, with no mishaps, on the Plover River Segment in Marathon. Photo by Jane LeCount. Fall-Winter 2017 MAMMOTH tales 5

6 TRAIL adventures oix River P St. Croix Falls A Force of Nature Leads the Way JONNAH PERKINS introduced to one of the Ice Age Trail Alliance s most active leaders in trail building and maintenance. Pat Witkowski, of the Waukesha-Milwaukee Chapter, has invested herself in the trail life for nearly 15 years. In 2002, during a group trail run at Lapham Peak in the Kettle Moraine State Forest, the trail intersected the Ice Age Trail. Pat asked her fellow runners where that trail went. She was warned: that the trail was not a loop and if she took it, she d never come back. Which is exactly what happened. Pat became so enthralled by the vastness and natural wonder of the Ice Age Trail, that she launched herself onto it and she is still captivated by it. Growing up on a diversified cattle farm in Vernon, Pat attended a one-room schoolhouse and went to on to compete collegiately in the 1-mile and 2-mile track events at UW-Oshkosh. She channeled her athletic passions into her career as an elementary physical education teacher in Oconomowoc. Pat s natural leadership and zealous sense of initiative was honed and fine-tuned during her years in public education. After getting involved as a volunteer with her local Ice Age Trail Alliance chapter, Pat was drawn to the diverse terrain and wide-open space to explore. She began section hiking the Trail in 2004 and completed every last mile on foot in a little over a year, becoming the 23rd person to complete the thousand-mile endeavor. This was an aggressive achievement for a full-time teacher and mother of four. The only logistical support she had was from her family, otherwise, Pat was alone on the trail. As an ultra-runner and mother of two small children I was impressed by Pat s willingness to forge a new path and unusual adventure for herself. Her quick optimism and the way she laughed off the adversity she met along the way showed me the drive to immerse ourselves in nature transcends gender and generations. Pat Witkowski laughingly poses for a picture in her favorite attire - trailbuilding garb displaying the evidence of her labor at the Walla Hi MSC Project. Photo by Joanne Ellarson. In August I ran 302 miles. At least half of those miles were on trails, many of them on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. Over the 45 hours that I spent on my feet covering ground, strengthening my body and conditioning my mind, my thoughts often wandered toward the very concept of trails. Carved out of the forest and prairies, trails are not static, one-time projects. They are living, breathing entities needing to be maintained and loved, long after they are created. To be on a trail feels like an absolute immersion in nature. When in fact, we are traveling on a path, through the woods, across the prairie, each mile cut and shaped by human hands. Most trails are forged by volunteers driven to make and maintain them for the greater good of the trail community and nature enthusiasts. A few weeks ago I was REI, in July of 2017, launched a comprehensive effort to advance gender equality in the outdoors, with the goal of encouraging its members to embrace the outdoors as the world s largest playing field. Pat demonstrates what gender equality in the outdoors looks like when a woman commits to getting outside, being involved, and pursuing a new found passion with boundless spirit. Positive role models like Pat inspire us to follow her footsteps into natural, outdoor spaces so we, too, can explore the most-wild versions of ourselves. In 2008, Pat earned her Ice Age Trail Alliance Mobile Skills Crew Leader certification. This enabled her to take on new leadership roles managing maintenance and creating new sections of trail. Pat and her crews build boardwalks, natural retaining walls, eradicate invasive species, and lay down hundreds of feet of new tread. Pat s work has been acknowledged nationally by the National Park Service. In 2015 she was awarded the President s Lifetime Achievement Award for completing 4,000 hours of volunteer service. This year the Ice Age Trail Alliance presented Pat with the highest honor, the Spirit Stick Award, a traveling trophy awarded to one inspiring, stand-out volunteer each year. My running often takes me through the steep, wooded trails and pristine prairies of the Devil s Lake Segment where I regularly experience the awe of the work it takes to maintain these public spaces. Every log I leap 6 MAMMOTH tales Fall-Winter 2017

7 OLK Rice Lake Barron BARRON RUSK Ladysmith PRICE LINCOLN Rhinelander Crandon MARINETTE LANGLADE over will be cleared by a volunteer team and all of the neatly trimmed grass underfoot has been mowed by a trail community member. The health and life of the Ice Age Trail relies on the dedication and skills of volunteers like Pat. Not only does she spend time behind a DR mower, she also established a group called the Blazin Babes who are responsible for keeping the iconic yellow Ice Age Trail blazes fresh on trees and posts, as well as keeping trail signage current. This spunky group of women travels around the state hiking segments of the Trail in their spirited volunteer effort. As women, we are a minority in the trail community. To be alone in the woods hiking, running, or improving the trails, is a relatively new frontier, one we must continue to forge. Our male comrades have been hiking vast distances, building trails, and running wild through the forest alone for millennia - and we have revered them for their brawny efforts. Now it s time for women of all ages to fire up our chain saws, lace up our hiking boots and take the forest by storm to soak in the deep fulfilment the trail has to offer. Women like Pat show us there are no boundaries for our adventurous ambitions. When I marveled at the amount of hard work she puts into the Ice Age Trail she said, "I wouldn t do it if it wasn t fun." Jonnah Perkins is a competitive ultra distance trail runner and lives in Blue Mounds, WI with her husband and two small children. She also helps manage her family s large CSA farm, Vermont Valley Community Farm, LLC. Read more of her stories about life and running at theultrafarmer.com/ Pat Witkowski handily demonstrates the finer points of the four-step tread construction process to her crew. Photo by Dave Caliebe. Pat takes a step back to survey her work and provide a teaching moment. Photo by Dave Caliebe. Fall-Winter 2017 MAMMOTH tales 7

8 OUTREACH & EDUCATION highlights Trailtessa [treyl-tes-sah], noun: a woman or girl who gets out on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail to experience adventure, freedom and a new way to be. ississippi Rive Super fun retreats designed for women. Signup Today! Explore the rugged beauty of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. Bring your tribe or come find your tribe. Either way, it s about getting outdoors and tasting delicious freedom. It s time to tell your to-do list where to go. You know the one it keeps you superwomen busy and preoccupied managing a busy life being beautiful, sexy, nice, smart, calm, organized, and the list goes on. Yeah, forget about that list. Re-discover YOU with plenty of permission to be. Be you: Bold. Audacious. Strong. Adventurous. You get to choose to be any way you want to BE. Choose from a series of events, come to one or come to all, along stunning segments of the Ice Age Trail. Be Happy Saturday, September 23, 2017 Table Bluff Segment, Dane Experience the legendary beauty of the Table Bluff Segment with a casual hike through high meadows followed by a farm-to-table meal. Be Fanciful Saturday, November 4, 2017 Dunes Segment, Manitowoc Be a Nature Princess at any age! Make a crown, dust off your boots, and explore the wild kingdom the Ice Age Trail. This program, inspired by the children s book, Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots? is royally in favor of getting outside and getting messy. Be Free Saturday, November 11, 2017 Verona Segment, Dane Stride out the door no looking back. Be determined. Put yourself first, for a morning, a day, and maybe forever. And that s a good thing. Ultra-runner, Jonnah Perkins, will welcome both beginners and seasoned trail runners. Be Connected Saturday, December 2, 2017 Montrose and Brooklyn Wildlife Segment, Dane It s the start of the busy holiday season. Get grounded, be centered. Keep what s important to you front and center. Connect with nature and other trail-minded friends as you hike and share a meal with area thousand-milers, seasoned and new-to-hiking hikers. Information and registration at: 8 MAMMOTH tales Fall-Winter 2017

9 r TREMPE LA CROSSE JACKSON Tomah Rapids ADAMS Wautoma WAUSHARA E Appleton Kaukauna Neenah Oshkosh WINNEBAGO CALUMET Manitowoc MANITOWOC G A N Be Empowered Saturday, January 20, 2018 Gibraltar Segment Pick up a set of clippers and wrestle buckthorn to the ground. Help restore the land to a mix of oak and prairie savanna. You ll work side-by-side with one of the most dedicated Trail enthusiasts you ll ever meet, chainsaw certified, Joanne Ellarson. Be Lucky Saturday, February 3, 2018 Straight Lake Segment, Polk You ll feel like the luckiest woman on earth as you snowshoe through a blanket of sparkling white snow. Warm your heart and bring your tribe and come ready to meet new friends. Warm your hands at the post-hike bonfire and enjoy yummy treats. Enjoy a guided hike with local experts. Be Fierce Friday, April 27 - Sunday, April 29, 2018 Chippewa Moraine Segment, Chippewa Be Immersed in rugged beauty. Hike along glittering kettle lakes, through mesic forests, and across winding boardwalks. Be strong and self-sufficient. You ll carry your own pack and gear on this 3-day backpacking trip. Be Enough Saturday, May 12, 2018 Kewauskum Segment Hike in the tranquil Otten Preserve followed by a body positive yoga session. Led by Washington Chapter members and Felicita Nieves of Blue Luna Yoga & Wellness. Be Mindful Saturday, May 19, 2018 Indian Lake Segment Practice mindfulness with a gentle spring hike. Be Kind. Relate to yourself, and Mother Earth, with respect. Breathe. Expand. Relax. Be Driven Saturday, June 2, 2018 Plover River Segment, Marathon Honor the woman who reaches milestones and plans her next accomplishment. Revel with the one who happily goes the extra mile, and believes the journey is the best part of life. Embrace a good dose of fun with hikes, horse-drawn carriage rides, and a wine and cheese party. Be Creative Saturday, June 9, 2018 Gibraltar Rock Segment Connect with nature in a wakeup-your-soul kind of way. The expansive view of Gibraltar Rock will send your muse soaring. Professor and artist, Letha Kelsey, will lead a friendly, comeas-you are, creative-arts workshop. Fall-Winter 2017 MAMMOTH tales 9

10 . Croix Falls BARRON St OUTREACH & EDUCATION highlights ST. CROIX DUNN Chippe Fa The Making of a Thousand-Miler River Falls PIERCE Menomonie BRIAN BEDNAREK Do your kids ask to go hiking? Fortunately, who stayed on the trail in hysterics. Along the way, we also talk about glacial features, ecosystems, plants and animals, invasive species, first aid, handling emergencies, and navigation, just to name a few topics. Our class has also adopted a portion of the Scuppernong Segment and takes time to spruce up the trail as we pass through. In other times of the year, my students and I work on invasive species removal. Another was when, in the course of a fewbuffalo minutes, we encountered several deer and then a flock of turkeys. Shortly afterwards, still with our hearts pumping from trying to follow the birds over a hill, we stopped under a stand of R trees. We stayed there for a few minutes just i v e r listening to the wind move the leaves above us. It may very well have been the first time these kids had ever stopped still in the forest just to listen. The looks of amazement on their faces seemed to confirm that. Last summer, one of my personal favorite moments was when two of my students went off trail to re-hide a geocache, only to walk within a few feet of a turkey vulture concealed in the brush. The screams from the two boys as the bird thunderously flew into the air left those of us For two weeks, in each of the last five summers, my students and I hiked the 46-plus miles of the Ice Age Trail in Waukesha. In the first week, we start at the Washington/Waukesha line and head south, eventually ending up just beyond the beautiful prairie at Lapham ssi ssi pp i It s a privilege to spend unplugged, outdoor time with these kids, a generation growing up with smartphones, Instagram and Snapchat accounts. We take time to geocache, find Cold Caches, explore historical sites, and investigate whatever is of interest to the students in that moment: a toad, an erratic, or a snake. And then there is the climbing. Many students are fearless climbers of rocks, trees, and whatever else seems inviting. Mi mine do. I m a middle school teacher, outdoor enthusiast, and member of the mowing crew of the Waukesha/Milwaukee Chapter of the Ice Age Trail Alliance. For the past five years, I ve been leading hikes on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail for my summer school students from the Montessori School of Waukesha. Based on the records I keep of each day s hikes, my students have covered 2,367 total Trail miles over the last five years. PEPIN Caught up in the moment, the kids watch in fascination as a frog swims in the waters of the Nemahbin Spring, Lapham Peak State Park. Photo by Brian Bednarek. 10 MAMMOTH tales Fall-Winter 2017

11 LANGLADE Y A B N Sturgeon Bay E River Peak State Park. In the second week, we continue CLARK southward until finishing at the Waukesha/Jefferson EAU CLAIRE line. Marshfield DOOR OCONTO E MARATHON Eau Claire MENOMINEE sin Wausau Marinette SHAWANO R TAYLOR CHIPPEWA ewa alls Antigo G Merrill Wiscon Medford Green Bay Stevens Algoma AN HIG MIC E LAK OZAUKEE TON ING WA SH DODGE West Bend An adventurous spirit crawls into a tight space at Brady s Rocks in the Eagle Segment to see what it like in there. Photo by Brian Bednarek. Oconomowoc Port Washington Germantown Madison In 2015, four students earned Meander the MidPlatteville Moraine patches in Washington and Ozaukee Counties. In 2016, six students earned Hall of LAFAYETTE Monroe Kamer status in the Lakeshore Chapter. One student GREEN said he liked how the Ice Age Trail interacted with nature, and he liked all the different animals you could see out on the trail. Some students become so tuned in they can spot a tiny toad, slug, or other creature well off the trail. Thanks to a supportive school administration, and the Ice Age Trail Alliance Saunters Program, the past five years of hiking with my students has been incredible. Also, thank you to those in the Alliance who create, support, and protect the Ice Age Trail, as well as the agencies and individuals who support the Saunters program. Without your support, so many of my students wouldn t have already set the goal of becoming Thousand-Milers one day. Sheboygan Fond SHEBOYGAN Portage COLUMBIA GRANT Besides the feeling of accomplishment my students feel, it is just amazing to watch how each child s experience is unique. No two students have exactly the same hike, but each comes away being richer for the experience. Several of my repeat hikers marvel at how the trail changes from year to year. They also have an increased sense of confidence and fitness level, with one remarking how he now needs to take fewer breaks on the trail than in the past. FOND Taking silly photos at this erratic in the Pinewoods DU LAC du Lac Campground in the Scuppernong GREEN Segment is an annual tradition. Photo by Brian Bednarek. LAKE MAR La Crosse Since 2014, I have also offered a one-week JUNEAU advanced class outside of our county. Twice now, VERNON we have hiked from our county line to Milton, covering Walworth, Jefferson, and about a third of Baraboo Rock. So far, ten students have covered SAUK that territory earning the Kettle Trekker patch. This D R andrichland year, we bravedohot threatening weather, and F W through a portion of the Storrs Lake even had toaford R n commented, Segment.C One of my students My s c o n s ilater Rive Prairie du Wi r favorite thing was when we went through a flooded Chien trail for about five minutes it was really fun, but the IOWA trail smelled really bad. He wasn t wrong. QUE TTE CALUMET TREMPEALEAU Point The Milwaukee/Waukesha chapter offers the Walk WOOD WAUPACA Kewaunee the Wauk hiker recognition program for those OUTAGAMIE KEWAUNEE PORTAGE Wisconsin covering all miles in its territory. To date, I ve hiked Waupaca BROWN JACKSON with 14 students who participated in and Rapids completed Appleton Kaukauna the program, and had 17 other students finish half or more. Many of my students have hiked the entire Neenah Wautoma county more than once. Over two weeks, we cover Manitowoc ADAMS Oshkosh WAUSHARA about LA 50 miles in total with side explorations. One MANITOWOC WINNEBAGO Tomah of CROSSE my students this year said she thought the Eagle MONROE Segment was the longest and the most beautiful. JEFFERSON DANE Whitewater Milwaukee Waukesha WAUKESHA MILWAUKEE RACINE Janesville ROCK Beloit Lake Geneva WALWORTH KENOSHA Racine Kenosha In search of a bird s-eye view, just after successfully finding a geocache, a fearless group of kids scale a massive pine tree at the Pinewoods Campground in the Scuppernong Segment. Photo by Brian Bednarek. A teaching moment happens naturally as curious students stop to count the growth rings of a tree felled along the Hartland Segment. Photo by Brian Bednarek. Fall-Winter 2017 MAMMOTH tales 11

12 Platteville C Prairie du Chien Wisco TRAILBUILDING highlights continued GRANT MSC Mini: Short Projects, Tall Outcomes IAT-U and Boardwalk Construction, June 22-25, Merrill School Forest, Lincoln. We partnered with the Merrill Area School System, the Friends of the Merrill School Forest, and North Central Technical College to provide a series of quality trainings to further the skills of our remarkable volunteers. 71 participants contributed 1,642 hours building their on and off-trail Ice Age Trail tool kits. Under the tutelage of a professional chef, volunteers honed their kitchen skills and learned to prepare the nutritious meals enjoyed and appreciated at Mobile Skills Crew events. Participants also dove into the intricacies of leadership and team-building for better decision-making and volunteer engagement. They deepened their technical skills as they learned about mapping software and sustainable trail design. To round out the knowledge base, classes in chainsaw safety and First Aid/CPR were also offered. Photo by Tim Malzhan. Farm Technology Days, July 11-13, Kewaunee Farm Technology Days was our chance to feed the farmers who traditionally feed us. This fundraising opportunity was about making friends, providing a crucial service, and raising awareness. It s important to foster a friendly alliance within the farming community as numerous Ice Age Trail segments run alongside swaths of farmland. While fences make good neighbors, so does reaching over the fence and learning how the shoe fits the other foot. Embracing this philosophy were 36 volunteers who handily stepped up to contribute over 800 volunteer hours to bring the face of the Ice Age Trail (and the Alliance) forward. They operated one of the busiest (of six) food tents on the Fair grounds. Food Tent Co-Captains, Dolly McNulty, Nancy Lazzaroni, and Barb Converse kept the crew on task and the daily operations functioning like a well-oiled machine. We had a lot of moving parts, dealt with some curve balls, and handled the event like true professionals. Photo Library. 12 MAMMOTH tales Fall-Winter 2017

13 nsin River Madison Oconomowoc IOWA JEFFERSON DANE Whitewater Milwaukee Waukesha WAUKESHA MILWAUKEE RACINE Racine (Left) Lake Eleven Segment, July 26-29, Taylor Deep in the Chequamegon National Forest, waters from the Chequamegon Flowage are still carving deep gullies. The Lake Eleven Segment crossed one of these industrious streams via an aging pedestrian bridge. The project, beginning with a small, focused premise, grew quickly as seasoned Trail Eyes broadened the perspective. Replacing the footbridge with a 36-foot-long, state-of-the-art clear span bridge, designed to last 50 years was not enough; two critical trail reroutes were added, then a third. Signage upgrades covered a mile and trail maintenance with mowers, weed whackers, and chainsaws extended for an additional three miles of Trail. Crucial to the productivity was a long-term partnership with the U.S Forest Service. Their staff provided equipment and operators for laying stringers across the gully. Equally key were the 88 Mobile Skills Crew volunteers whose 2,101 hours set a steady pace of accomplishment. With every tree grubbed, blaze painted, swing of the pick mattock, and sandwich prepared, the individuals completing these tasks became an integral member of this trailbuilding community and helped amp up the project. The team went above and beyond, cranking it to 11, Lake 11 that is. Photo by Michael Maziarka. (Right) Clover Valley Segment, August 24-26, Walworth The Clover Valley event started in the mud, where the first boardwalk frame was placed at the center of the wettest part of the project area. From this mid-point, two crews set to work in opposite directions. After three bustling days of setting support pans, eradicating a sea of buckthorn, and laying down boards for the 348-foot-long boardwalk, the end was in sight. If the story ended here, everyone would be satisfied, right? Maybe. But, we would be leaving out a year and a half of steady pre-project collaboration by local Walworth/ Jefferson Chapter volunteers Jerome Converse and Andy Whitney, and Rock Chapter volunteer Dennis James who coordinated lumber processing, frame construction, and materials transported to the work site. We would also be leaving out the generous gift, by Steve Goehner of Goehner Industries, of 2,500 white oak deck boards, and, the tremendous hands-on support provided by DNR staff, and the former owners, Renee and John Mitchel, of what is now a 40-acre State Ice Age Trail Area. Although the focal point may be a boardwalk, bridge, or rock wall, these projects encompass so much more. Volunteers come together to accomplish forest restoration, tread construction, meal preparation, and to grow their collective appreciation of the Ice Age Trail and the gifts of the Wisconsin landscape. While they were at it, 49 volunteers dedicated 1,121 hours to improving the Clover Valley Segment for the enjoyment of hikers for generations to come. Photo by Dave Caliebe. Project summary by Micheal Maziarka, IATA Intern. Fall-Winter 2017 MAMMOTH tales 13

14 TRAILBUILDING highlights continued River Falls PIERCE A Trailbuilding Season High Point Celebrated CHARLES SCHWARTZ Mobile Skills Crew volunteer After finding a good candidate for a retaining wall while out rock shopping Steve Jandl, Dave Caliebe, and Michael Maziarka pop it out of the earth with tamping bars and a pick mattock. Photo by Cameron Gillie of ThePinHoleThing.com. Ringle Segment, Manitowoc August 9 13 Participants: 75 Hours: 2,181 The vantage point from atop Rib Mountain provides a stunning bird s eye view of Marathon. Looking east, past the Wisconsin River valley, a distinct ridge rises 10 miles distant the rocks, soil, and drift deposited by the last gasp of a melting, mile-high glacier. As the five-day project wound down, volunteers gathered, high above Wausau, after Saturday s workday to eat pizza, drink wine, and enjoy a Concert in the Clouds with Randy Sabien and Pat Donohue. After all the stones were placed, blazes painted, buckets of duff hauled away, and meals cooked, the perfect sunset, amongst the company of friends old and new, made this a great way to wrap up a successful Mobile Skills Crew event. This cheerful group began assembling Tuesday, near Hatley, WI, for the third Soul Shakedown of the Ringle Segment in These three projects represented phase one in the transformation of the Ice Age Trail from being mostly a multi-use troad to becoming a signature hiker experience. They produced a flurry of activity not seen in Marathon since the construction of the Plover River Segment from This project will create a new and improved experience for hikers and also opens the door for other outdoor sports to coexist on the property without conflict. The August event presented an ambitious goal: to complete and open a new 1.7-mile segment of new trail from the Mountain-Bay Trail up to Poplar Road and decommission the existing trail. The trail construction notes called for challenging tread construction and an ambitious amount of rockwork. Volunteers from all around the state, and beyond, were up for the challenge. With the tools of the trade including everything from paint brush to pick mattock, the 75 volunteers contributed 2,181 hours to continue where the May project left off, without missing a step. continued on page 23 Transporting a heavy boulder in a rock sling, Jerry Pfeifer, Rich Propp, and Steve Jandl, carefully move a rock into position along a retaining wall. Photo by Cameron Gillie of ThePinHoleThing.com. By gentle persuasion, an elegant six-step rock staircase beckons hikers forward along the Ringle Segment. Photo by Dave Caliebe. 14 MAMMOTH tales Fall-Winter 2017

15 Menomonie PEPIN Eau Claire EAU CLAIRE AU CLARK Marshfield WOOD River Stevens Point SHAWANO WAUPACA Green Bay G R E E Bay Algoma Kewaunee Walla Hi: A New Eden DAVID CALIEBE Trail Program Specialist Walla Hi Segment, Manitowoc September Participants: 162 Volunteer Hours: 3,348 In light of early evening, and the deep hush of the Walla Hi woods, a brand new section of trail beckons. Photo by Joanne Ellarson. Volunteers, in the glow of late afternoon sun, work together to build sustainable trail. They industriously set stones and tamp them into place, crafting a retaining wall on the edge of a sloping hillside. Photo by Cameron Gillie of ThePinHoleThing.com. Fifteen thousand years in the making, the Ice Age Trail has arrived at a tucked away, nearly forgotten park in southwestern Manitowoc. Walla Hi Park harbors a dramatic illustration of the forces massive lobes of ice, grinding against one another can inflict on the landscape. The park mostly survived development thanks to the rugged, esker-like ridges and deep, elongated valleys. Sure, constructing 322 feet of rock and timber retaining walls is remarkable, so were the 36 signage posts dug in through great effort, but the grit and willingness of the 162 volunteers to keep working their sections of trail to craft a supreme hiking experience was most impressive. The rocky terrain did not easily yield to a 30-inch wide footpath. Sections were repeatedly worked over to fine-tune the tread width and create a long-lasting trail. It took every one of the 3,348 volunteer hours donated during the project to open a new 1.4-mile portion of the Ice Age Trail along with a half-mile white blaze loop. Enclosed in the roiling landscape, it s easy to let the outside world fade into the background. To become immersed in the forest of far-toobig-to-fit-your-arms around oak, beech, and maple trees. To feel the trail underfoot, smell the growing fragrance of autumn, and gaze upon the wandering hills. This is why the popularity of the Ice Age Trail continues to grow. This is why volunteers keep selflessly donating their time, sweat, and knowledge to this idea. The Walla Hi Segment is an exemplary addition to the vision of a continuous footpath coursing through Wisconsin. It features, on all levels, what sets the Ice Age Trail apart: an unparalleled landscape story, a collaboration of land protection, an ambitious vision, dedicated volunteers, a wealth of trailbuilding skills, and the sheer beauty of the Trail. The story of the Ice Age Trail is far from over in and around Walla Hi. There will be more land to protect, more trail to build, more amenities to provide hikers, more audiences to engage, more words to describe the powerful glacial landscape. Come saunter through the Arcadian hills of Walla Hi, but look to the horizon, for there is more to come. Fall-Winter 2017 MAMMOTH tales 15

16 DUNN Chip CHAPTER highlights Polk and Burnett Counties INDIANHEAD CHAPTER Coordinator: Dean Dversdall ( , Our chapter (and additional volunteers) focused on a reroute near Clam Falls which now highlights Ice Age features for an improved trail experience. Everyone did an amazing job in creating a trail reflecting National Park Service Trail Standards. A youth group from the Church of Our Fathers House in Burnsville, Minnesota spent a pleasant day hiking the Straight Lake Park. A couple from Minnesota spent a few days training locally for their thru-hike on the Colorado Trail. They made a funny video you can view on the Indianhead FB page (Indianhead Chapter of the Ice Age Trail Alliance). We hosted a Twilight Hike and staffed a booth at Friend Raiser, a Fund Raiser Fair at the Tesora Event Center in Siren where we met many people and recruited new members. Chet Anderson was interviewed on WCCO radio where the interview was hosted on their FB page. A youth group from Burnsville, Minnesota enjoyed a day at the Straight Lake Park and quickly became acquainted with one of the landmarks of the park, an impressively sized Basalt rock. Photo by John Helling. Colfax Summer Saunters, 58 kids along with 8 mentors spent a couple of days hiking in the Straight Lake Park and McKenzie Wildlife Area. They stopped at the big Basalt Rock and were treated to Cork s famous brownies. The first week of August, 78 Frederic/Luck Summer Saunters eagerly headed onto the trail along with their leader Carrie Peterson and volunteers to spend a week hiking. Even though it rained most of one day and their overnight had to be cancelled, they finished the week with a picnic at Coon Lake Park where they performed skits for everyone about their trail adventures. - Cheryl Whitman Barron and Washburn Counties SUPERIOR LOBE CHAPTER Coordinator: Bob Held ( , HeldHarbor@gmail.com) Cheers rang out as Dale Cardwell presented Chapter Coordinator Bob Held with a troll woodcarving. The Spirit of the Trail award is in recognition of Bob s record of mowing 45 miles with the John Deer tractor, 10 hours with the Swisher and 40 hours with the DR. Thanks to Bob, and many hours of weed whacking by Cardwell and Mitch Fox, all 36-miles of main trail and 3 miles of side trails are in good hiking condition despite a wet summer with robust vegetation growth. River Falls PIERCE Menomonie PEPIN Conviviality and festive joy marked the cookout at the Loch Lomond Beach Club where we hosted the Blazing Babes who had just completed the day with an amazing 3 miles of clearing and blazing on the Hemlock It s a cause for celebration when the Blazing Babes Creek Segment. Pat descend on a region! The Superior Lobe Chapter Witkowski made the pulled out all the stops in recognizing the Babes get-together even more accomplishments: 5 miles worth of blazing and corridor clearing along the Hemlock Creek Segment. special by bringing Photo by Cynthia McGraw. the Spirit Stick. They completed a total of five-miles during their visit. Letitia Koppa, Dale and Carole Crisler, in addition to Don and Jan Erickson, showed up to protect the Ice Age Trail at DNR Recreational Opportunities Analysis (ROA) open houses. The five advocates managed to attend open houses in Ashland, Siren and Ladysmith. A number of Superior Lobers participated in the on-line survey. We hosted a hike on 4.9 miles of the Hemlock Creek Segment where a delightful group of 16 hikers chatted away enjoying the sunny morning. The hike took us on a winding path along Red Pines, crossing a stream over a boardwalk and along lakes/wetland areas. Our first-time hikers were impressed by the boardwalk, especially as they considered how the materials were brought in so far from a road. It was perfect timing to encourage new hikers to join in trail maintenance or a Mobile Skills weekend. The comradery continued at Cheers Bar and Grill at the Tagalong Golf Course. - Don Erickson and Letitia Koppa Rusk BLUE HILLS CHAPTER Coordinator: Fred Nash ( , nashfd@bevcomm.net) The mild, wet summer started with a Mobile Skills Crew MSC Mini to clear trails of extensive storm damage, mow, and install signage. Chapter members have begun removing more trees brought down by subsequent storms, and plan to hold additional work days as cooler fall weather prevails. Trail conditions this summer have been characterized by warm, humid weather, downed trees, wet, muddy tread, and fewer mosquitoes and ticks than usual. A beaver dam aptly demonstrates the challenges Mother Nature tosses at volunteers maintaining the Ice Age Trail in the Blue Hills. Photo by Marilynn Nash 16 MAMMOTH tales Fall-Winter 2017

17 CHIPPEWA pewa Falls Eau Claire EAU CLAIRE CLARK MARATHON Marshfield Wausau Corey Pederson continues to work on his Eagle Scout project, creating and installing trail mileage signs on the Blue Hills segments. Trail usage remains steady, users inquiring about and hiking the Blue Hills Segment. - Marilynn Nash Chippewa Taylor Lincoln onsin River CHIPPEWA MORAINE CHAPTER Coordinator: Richard Smith ( , chapter@iatchippewa.org) HIGH POINT CHAPTER Coordinator: Buzz Meyer ( , gtmeyer@charter.net) NORTHWOODS CHAPTER Coordinator: Ruby Jaecks ( , brjaecks@ outlook.com) The Northwoods Chapter held its Annual Meeting in April with about 40 people in attendance. Dr. Brett Barker gave a presentation on John James Audubon s Birds of America. The new boardwalk crafted by IAT-U students and installed along the Grandfather Falls Segment s outand-back portion through the Merrill School Forest. Photo by Ruby Jaecks. Ten hearty souls enjoyed spotting wildflowers on our annual Spring Wildflower hike held in May on the Newwood Segment. The hike was rerouted twice due to high water levels, and rain threatened but held off until the hike was over. A Mobile Skills Crew boardwalk project and IAT-U was held at the Merrill School Forest on June 22-25th. We re grateful to all the people who built the boardwalk and supplied help in any other way. A special Thank You to the Friends of the Merrill School Forest for all their prep work ahead of the project it was awesome. We are definitely seeing signs of many hikers using the trails. - Ruby Jaecks MENOMINEE SHAWANO Marathon OCONTO G R E E N B A DOOR Sturgeon Bay MARATHON COUNTY CHAPTER Coordinator: Gail Piotrowski ( , piotrows@gmail.com) In April, there was a successful corridor clearing event in the Ringle segment, east of the current trail, to prepare for Mobile Skills Crew projects in May and August. In August we celebrated the opening of the first segment of the Ringle reroute with a concert on Rib Mountain complete with pizza and assorted alcoholic beverages. A great time was had by all!! Channel 9 from Wausau came out to investigate the work being done and interview volunteers. They hosted a very nice segment about the Trail on the evening news, which including a great interview with Tim Malzhan. The Chapter has put extra effort into the Thornapple Creek segment, making this often difficult-to-hike-and-maintain segment much more hiker-friendly (and for the chapter volunteers, too). Especially rewarding are all the positive comments the chapter has received about the Thornapple Creek improvements. The new parking lot on Hwy HH at the northern end of the Plover River segment and the spur trail leading to the Ice Age Trail is complete and signage has been erected. Attendance at our bi-monthly planning meetings have increased to the point that we are starting to run out of room in our regular location Imagine! We welcome new members and fresh ideas! - Patty Mishkar Portage and Waupaca Counties PORTAGE COUNTY CHAPTER Coordinator: Julie Schneider ( , jschneideriat@gmail.com) Our June 3rd Spring Flower Hike, led by Bob Freckmann, was well-attended, as was our first-ever Night Hike on June 24th, organized by Becky White. We hosted an information table at the Greenway RV Show, the Midwest Renewable Energy Fair, and at June Dairy Days. We also created a National Trails Day display at both the Stevens Point and WI Rapids libraries. While she was hiking in our area, we also hosted a small gathering for Jill Rager, from Great Britain who has the distinction of being the first Thousand- Miler from abroad. The biggest event, however, was the June 12th storm. It resulted in a blow down of more than 20 trees across all sections of the Portage and Waupaca Trail segments. We owe an enormous thanks to all the volunteers who helped clear debris so the Trail could be open for summer hikers. - Julie Schneider Langlade LANGLADE COUNTY CHAPTER Coordinator: Joe Jopek ( , jjjopekj@frontier.com) Portage and Waupaca Counties WAUPACA COUNTY CHAPTER Coordinator: Debbie Krogwold ( , debbie.krogwold@co.waupaca.wi.us) Fall-Winter 2017 MAMMOTH tales 17

18 CHAPTER highlights continued Waushara WAUSHARA COUNTY CHAPTER Coordinator: Jenny Addis ( , Our trail mowers were busy through the summer due to the unseasonable amount of rain. It was the first time ever, the chapter mowed three times by the month of July. Hats off to our Trail Maintenance Coordinator, Randy Lennartz and his dedicated crew, Randy Bacon, Larry Bacon, George Dowhen and Dick Semrow. Lots of hard work! On June 3rd, a total of 26 hikers laced up their hiking boots and hit the Trail in Waushara for our third annual Summer Hike to celebrate National Trails Day. Hikers had the option of hiking the Mecan River Springs or Wedde Creek segments. We were honored to have many firsttimers join in, with one attendee traveling from as far away as Cedarburg in Ozaukee. Special recognition goes to our friends and members, Genie Metoyer and Russ Brown, owners of Fresh for Life Organics, for providing all attendees with fresh, homemade snacks and beverages! On Saturday, August 12th, we hosted our first Let s Light Up the Night Hike on the Greenwood Wildlife Area. We invited the community to get their Glow On and this free, family-fun hike drew in a total of 40 hikers, ranging all ages, and included one dog. We provided a limited supply of free glow supplies and plenty of red cellophane to dim flashlights and headlamps. The 1.5-mile guided hike, led by Randy Lennartz, Maintenance Coordinator, began just after dusk, and the glowing group slithered along the trail for over an hour. Attendees gave the hike such a glowing review that you can expect this new addition to appear on the chapter s agenda next year! - Jenny Addis Northern Columbia We gave a well-received presentation to the Portage Chamber of Commerce. It included an interview with a reporter and an article in the local newspaper, which was not expected! The Chapter has also sponsored chapter hikes on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. While turnout has been low, we ve been getting our name out there! In September, we learned that a boardwalk along the Portage Canal Segment had come apart. Thanks to Fred Galley of the Portage Historic Canal Association for repairing the boardwalk and making it passable again. The construction of the new Columbia building is now complete and hikers can now hike the entire Portage Canal Segment. Several chapter members have also been helping the Baraboo Chapter with trail maintenance in the Devil s Lake area. - Debby Capener HERITAGE TRAIL CHAPTER Scot Harvey ( , sdharveygroup@outlook.com) and Debby Capener ( , debbycapener@gmail.com) The before photo of the boardwalk along the Portage Canal Segment was in dire straits, preventing safe passage for hikers. Photo by Justin Buchholz. The after photo of the boardwalk along the Portage Canal Segment demonstrates the importance of good working relationships with community partners. Photo by Justin Buchholz. Sauk BARABOO HILLS CHAPTER Coordinator: Donna & Neal Meier ( , IATABarabooHills@gmail.com) An innovative idea paid dividends in fun as 40 hikers got their glow on during the Waushara s Let s Light Up the Night Hike. Photo by Randel Lennartz. Marquette MARQUETTE COUNTY CHAPTER Coordinator: Gary Ertl ( , garebear510@hotmail.com 18 MAMMOTH tales Fall-Winter 2017 Southern Columbia LODI VALLEY CHAPTER Coordinator: Joanna Fanney ( , iwannahike2day@gmail.com) Our annual National Trails Day Mammoth Fun Run/Walk was once again a success, attracting approximately 50 participants of all ages. We observed the Summer Solstice with a hike and a social event hosted at the home of chapter volunteers. The chapter offered monthly full moon hikes as well as monthly Tyke Hikes. Chapter members helped promote the Trail by walking in the Lodi Library Run/ Walk fundraiser as well as through our participation in the National Night Out event, during which we engaged children with a ball toss game featuring a map of the trail.

19 GRANT DANE Whitewater WAUKESHA MILWAUKEE We end with a sad note as we acknowledge the death of Frank Groves, 92, of Lodi. Frank was an amazing person who made a difference in the world. A true friend of the environment, Frank placed most of his family s land, the Lodi Valley Chapter members devised yet another way Fern Glen Farm which for children to have fun and engage with the Trail. A ball toss game was created, featuring a map of the has been part of his Trail, and used at their booth during a National Night family s legacy since Out event in Lodi, Wisconsin. Photo by Patti Herman. the 1860 s, into a conservation easement with the Ice Age Trail Alliance, in In this way, Frank ensured the Fern Glen Segment (previously called the Groves- Pertzborn Segment) and the land would be preserved in perpetuity for all to enjoy. Many of us will remember the MSC project during which we made Frank s farm our base camp as we worked on the Fern Glen segment; Frank was so pleased to host the project at his home. We will miss Frank s presence and will think of him every time we walk the Fern Glen segment. - Patti Herman Dane DANE COUNTY CHAPTER Coordinators: Tess Mulrooney ( , tlmmdsn@aol.com) and Anne Helsley-Marchbanks ( , ahelsley@wisc.edu) Cross Plains celebrated its second year as an Ice Age Trail Community on July 14 and 15. The first day was devoted to tread maintenance, signage upgrades and invasive species removal along the steep trail on the north side of the village. Volunteers enjoyed a complimentary meal from our friends at Crossroads Coffee House afterwards. The next day began with an Early Bird Hike on the Cross Plains Segment, and included a Tyke Hike and an afternoon tour of the Swamplovers property. By the time you read this, the Dane and Lodi Valley chapters will have completed eight fall workdays devoted to rerouting a badly-eroded portion of the eastern Lodi Marsh Segment. The project, headed by Ed Spoon, includes building 1,800 feet of new tread, some of it on steep cross slope, and establishing a dispersed camping area in a parcel recently purchased by DNR. Expected completion is fall of Summer stewardship included an unusual growing-season controlled burn on August 25 in the prairie west of Lodi Springfield Road. Tom Wise proposed the summer burn to DNR to curtail invasive brush, and his idea fortunately coincided with DNR s desire to do some burning outside of the busy spring fire season. Wise and Jon Bishop assisted DNR on the burn. Stewardship volunteers were busy during the rest of the summer clearing invasive weeds and brush from lands hosting the Trail. - Dave Jenkins Platteville LAFAYETTE Monroe GREEN Janesville ROCK Beloit WALWORTH Rock ROCK COUNTY CHAPTER Coordinator: Dennis James ( , djames84@outlook.com) The summer of 2017 started out with a great urban hike in Chicago. 21 of us hiked the Bloomingdale Trail, part of The 606 park system, a 2.7-mile, elevated rail-trail on Chicago s northwest side. Built on a former rail line, the trail sits nearly 20 feet above four of the city s neighborhoods: Wicker Park, Bucktown, Humboldt Park, and Logan Square. The urban hike in Chicago has become a summer staple for the Chapter. In June, the Ice Age Trail behind Mercy Hospital was moved off the pavement to an established footpath along the Rock River originally built by the Wisconsin Conservation Corp. Users have expressed delight with this new addition. On June 20th, the Chapter hosted a hike and lunch for 32 Navy Recruiters. We hiked with the Recruiters from Riverside Park to the historic cabin and back as part of their team-building event. Summer Saunters, with the Janesville School District, was once again a success for the kids, and the Friday potluck well-attended by parents. In August, we had a great Eagle Scout Project clearing buckthorn along the Spring Brook section of the Janesville Segment. The Chapter and other community members have been extremely active in the last two years in clearing invasives in this corridor. The ARISE Program is moving ahead in downtown Janesville. The parking ramp is down and the riverfront is being restored. The Ice Age Trail will be prominent in the completed project. - Dennis James Walworth and Jefferson Counties Lake Geneva WALWORTH/JEFFERSON COUNTY CHAPTER Coordinators: Andrew Whitney ( , andywhitney1@yahoo.com) A busy summer for the Walworth-Jefferson Chapter started with our National Trails Day Hike in June and ended in August with us hosting a mini-msc Project at the Clover Valley segment near the Walworth and Rock line. Summer activities included a mini-reroute along Duffin Road (the Blackhawk Segment), working with volunteers from Carol Prchal s church. The Chapter was awarded a second place prize for Costumed Marchers in the 4th of July Parade in Whitewater. Later in the month, Nancy Lazzaroni and Barb Converse joined forces with former chapter member, Dolly McNulty, to help operate the food tent at the Farm Technologies Days event in Kewaunee. July outings included a hike at the Bong State Recreation area followed by an apple & pear wine tasting at a nearby establishment, and the exploration of the Linn Township Nature Park, near Geneva Lake. Finally, members set up/manned an informational booth at the weekly Farmer s Market in Lake Geneva to help spread word about the Trail. Some of the most significant work of the season done was in anticipation of the Clover Valley boardwalk project, which by all reports went very well. ( Hats off to Jerome Converse who was instrumental in all the planning and preparation.) - Vince Lazzaroni RACINE KENOSHA Racine Kenosha Fall-Winter 2017 MAMMOTH tales 19

20 Mississippi BUFFALO CHAPTER highlights continued With a brave soul having donned the Monty costume on a hot summer afternoon and a chance to hold the spirit stick and interact with friendly, laughing volunteers, this child is a new fan of the Ice Age Trail. Photo by Kevin Kuhlmann. Waukesha and Milwaukee Counties WAUKESHA/ MILWAUKEE COUNTY CHAPTER Coordinator: Kris Jensen ( , Krisjen1846@gmail.com) When you picture a typical Ice Age Trail volunteer you envision someone wielding heavy tools, operating chain saws, maneuvering mowers, and building structures. Certainly, those people are critical to creating and maintaining the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. It wouldn t exist without them. There are many others engaged in promoting the trail through countless outreach events and presentations. They share their personal experiences, knowledge, time and enthusiasm for the IATA. This year our Chapter has staffed booths at our First Day and National Trails Day hikes, community events such as Chillin on the Trail, Kids Day, and the BID group (Business Improvement District) gathering in Hartland, the 4th of July celebration and Night Out event in Delafield and the Sustainability Fair at Lapham Peak. We also provided information at an REI winter promotion, Genesee Lake School, and Books and Company in Oconomowoc. In addition, a few good sports have delighted children and adults alike by braving the heat and donning our Monty costume for some of these occasions. Other members and Thousand-Milers have created, informative, visually impressive presentations they offer to community groups and organizations, business partners, and at chapter meetings. Chris Miller, Pat Witkowski, Mike Visuri, Barb Johnson, Ann Green, Dave and Jeannie Georgson, Jeannie and Dean Herold and Ken Nietzke have contributed their time engaging the public through their unique trail tales. We thank these volunteers who serve as valuable ambassadors for the IATA. - Kris Jensen Washington and Ozaukee Counties WASHINGTON/OZAUKEE COUNTY CHAPTER Coordinator: Tom Alberg ( , alberg@ameritech.net) Trail builders know summertime has arrived when they hear the sound of pick mattocks scraping glacial till! Our chapter has been busy creating a lengthy re-route in the Holy Hill Segment between Waterford and Pleasant Hill Roads. Tuesday evening work-nights and several Saturday workdays have brought us close to completing the first phase of this project. Small but mighty, a 1.38-acre parcel was purchased in the City of West Bend by the IATA. This parcel will become an extension of Ridge Run Park, eliminate a road connector route, and create a safe crossing at a controlled intersection at STH- 33/Washington Street. Chapter volunteers immediately got to work. Under the direction of IATA Intern Justin Shrader, we spent several days conducting extensive buckthorn removal on the new site. Summer hikes are a highlight of the chapter. June s Summer Solstice Hike, July s Mid-Summer Hike in New Fane, and August s Moonlight Hike in the Loew Lake Segment were all hits attracting new and seasoned hikers. July was our annual summer picnic at the Kettle Moraine State Forest- Pike Lake Unit. The evening began with an interesting guided hike with Forest Supervisor Rob Wessberg, to a recently rediscovered historic Native American camp-site and burial ground within the park. The evening culminated with a sunset picnic a nice chance to socialize and share many delicious homemade summertime dishes. - Lisa DeLaney Fond du Lac, Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Kewaunee, and Door Counties LAKESHORE CHAPTER Coordinator: Dan Mitchell ( , dmitchell001@new.rr.com) Fen, a wetland ecosystem where the water table is at or near the surface. This describes our 1.5-mile segment northeast of Tisch Mills along the East Twin River. With swallowtails and small orange butterflies flitting around us (and muskrat holes beneath us), we mowed for the third time late this summer. We were rewarded with the yellows of rosinweed and goldenrod and multi-colored asters that found sunlight along the trail where we have been mowing the reed canary grass for years. Under misty skies, working with the Kewaunee Parks Department and local groups, we built a kiosk largely of cedar, salvaged from our trail northwest of Mishicot. It will help direct users (horses, bicyclists, and hikers) south toward Algoma, west toward Casco, or north toward Maplewood. With the help of the City of Manitowoc Parks Department and IATA s Dave Caliebe, we laid out a reroute in Henry Schuette Park to control erosion and which eliminated difficult high steps for accessing the park. We ll set a date for next year to complete the work. In September, careful planning and vast participation resulted in more than two miles of well-defined trail through the kettles and moraines of Walla Hi Park A cedar kiosk, a community-building project, stands at the ready to offer hikers plenty of information about the Ice Age Trail options in Kewaunee. Photo by Dan Mitchell. in southwest Manitowoc to the delight of local residents and visitors. Dan Mitchell River 20 MAMMOTH tales Fall-Winter 2017

21 TREMPEALE PORTAGE OUTAGAMIE Wisconsin Waupaca BROWN JACKSON Rapids MEMBER & DONOR Appleton news Kaukauna Neenah ADAMS Wautoma Oshkosh June 13th September 26th, 2017 UMET KEWAUNEE Manitowoc N THE IATA WELCOMES... NEW MEMBERS Thank you to the 104 new members of the Ice Age Trail Alliance! NEW YELLOW BLAZE CLUB MEMBERS The Yellow Blaze Club consists of members giving annual gifts of $1,000 or more. Thank you to the following new members: Maureen Skelton Tom & Bonnie Umhoefer MATCHING GIFTS Matching gifts were received from: American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation thanks to Ed McManus BMO Harris Bank thanks to Janet Tallberg GE Foundation thanks to David Morehouse Google, Inc. thanks to Yiran Wang Illinois Tool Works Foundation thanks to Mark Ulrich The Illumina Foundation thanks to Kevin Tipple Owens-Illinois thanks to Elizabeth DeBraal Thrivent Financial Foundation thanks to Phil Snyder BURR OAK LEGACY SOCIETY The Burr Oak Legacy Society recognizes those who have made a commitment to support the Ice Age Trail Alliance through their estate plans. We are honored to celebrate those people today for their future gifts toward the growth and success of the Ice Age Trail. Anonymous (9) David & Kathy Adam Bess & Bernard Alberg John & Sharon Bloodgood Bruce & Roberta Boczkiewicz Nancy Brownrigg Jerome & Barb Converse Jason Dorgan Joanna Kramer Fanney David & Carol Farber James & Susan Fiore Bob Funk Tom & Jan Gilbert Jerry Goth Roy & Sue Gromme Tom Gross & Linda Hein Dr. Kurt Hansen Deb & Tom Heier Russell & Karen Helwig Mary Hilfiker Marcy & Nathan Kempf Dean & Mary Klinger Linda Levengood Lyle Lidholm Susan Lindsay David Lonsdorf & Marilyn Chohaney David & Lois Lovejoy The Lundberg Family Herb, Corrine, Kimberly (Lundberg Taylor), Barton, and Rodrick Neal & Donna Meier Tess Mulrooney Randy S. & Joanna M. Parlee Nancy Jo Patterson David W. Phillips Carol Prchal Dan Rambo Ann & Bob Rusch Elisabeth Schraith Gerald & Mary Schwoch Tony Stretton & Philippa Claude Lee & Jacqui Swanson Matthew Underwood & Chong Lor Sally Wilmeth & Terry Geurkink Tom & Bonnie Wise Mike & Barbara Wollmer MILESTONES Gifts to the IATA were made in honor of: Dave Caliebe by Karl Borton Sharon Dziengel by Ronald Vaughn Tom Gross s birthday by Mary Lynn Heid Calvin & Donna Kraemer by Michael Kraemer Mark Leitermann by Elissa Richardson Jim Powers by Kevin & Amanda Moss Jim Powers & Izzy by Shirley Miller The Trail Angels at the Kettle Moraine 100 by Courtney Lawson Fall-Winter 2017 MAMMOTH tales 21

22 MEMBER & DONOR news continued ST. CROIX DUNN June 13th September 26th, 2017 St. Croix River POLK St. Croix Falls Barron BARRON RUSK CHIPPEWA Chippewa Gifts to the IATA were made in memory of: Dr. Mark E. Cook by Maria Arendt Mary Ellen Bates John & Shawn Bogdanske Laura & Bill & James Campbell Charles & Kathryn Czuprynski Marshall & Lisa Flax William & Dori MacFarlane and the staff at MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc. Jessica Muhlenbeck David & Gypsy Shearer Lynn, Stu & Lisa Thomas Perk Dinsmore by Joe & Peg Jopek Grafton & Elayne Fanney by Joanna Fanney Frank Groves by Margaret Davey Edith & Thomas Eberle Joanna Fanney Ted & Mary Jean Goeres Lisa Groves, John, Brian & Valerie, Dan, and Liz Jeffrey & Rana Hughey Scott Jeffery Sheila Landsverk & Ron Hunt Darlene Lloyd The children of Norma & George Maddrell: Paul Maddrell, Dick Maddrell, Barbara Foy & Jennifer Maddrell John & Patricia Meade Jeffrey & Mary Nelson Sherry Nelson Amy & Jim Onofrey Gretchen & David Skoloda John & Jean Steele Lori & Daniel Stone Don & Jody Thistle Mike Guisleman by Ed & Sue Ellen Madere Mark Haase by Pam Smith Raymond E. Karshna, Jr. by Polly Critchlow & Bonnie Berg Alissa, Anjali, Annette, Molly & Omar Galassi Jill Ladwig by Various Friends and Family and Paula Andrews Jason & Veronica Averkamp Craig Benson Barbara Bohl Kathleen and Mark Bonady Michael & Lora Booher Robert Brudnicki Mark & Janice Bryant Randall & Jocelyn Bubolz Jaclyn Carey Jon & Eileen Deignan John & Terri Devine Dennis & Pat DuBoux Tammy, Ed, Owen, and Jim at Duke Energy Tuncer Edil EREF David Eskinazi Hector Garcia Geosyntec Consultants Golder Associates Bruce Hensel Corey & Therese Holland John & Susan Hrobar The James Humbert Family Janelle, Nick, and Maxine Jansen Lake Robert Jewell A.R. Klewin Tom & Annette Knoll David, Donna, Daniel, and Darren Kogut Mary Korkor Judith Kozminski Paul Krajewski Mike Kuchenreuther Michael & Kelli Ladwig Mark Ladwig Joann Lalie Wendy Landry Cynthia & Mark Liban Steven & Sharon Lownik Michael & Becky Marlin Deborah & John Matitz Mary Jo Moch David & Judi Morris Joe & Mary Nelson Daniel & Anne Nowakowski Mary Kay & George O Brien Carol Olson Orthopaedic Associates of Wisconsin, Mark Smith Dale & Patricia Peck Paul Pike Mike & Debbie Printz Jeffrey & Carolyn Radtke Jim Redwine Dale & Bonnie Regan Jeff & Jana Reichel Lynn Rusy Jill Sahagian Jan Sahagian-Crandall Jeanne Sarbacker Jay & Debbie Schweikl John Seymour Bob Shellman Fern Siegel Ken Ladwig s friends at Southern Company (Ben Gallagher, Ed Healy, Eric Wallis, Greg Whetstone, Jim Pegues, John Pugh, and Lamar Larrimore) Reid Spiering St. Cloud Hospital, St. Cloud, MN Gary & Cynthia Stigler Kathleen Stroud Ken Ladwig s many friends at the Tennessee Valley Authority Kathryn Trudell Richard Weber Karen Wegner & Paul Vastag Neal & Susan Wucherer Jean Yeomans Gerald Larson by Various Friends and Family and Donna Ames & James Ratsch Lindy Barden, Sarah Becker, and Andrew Barden Paul & Susan Barrett Jack & Carol Bartingale Anne Blindt Robert Bock Naomi Bolstad Kuhn Pauline Boss John & Dorothy Brugge William & Judith Busse Dick Cable Thomas & Jean Choate Gary Cohen & Larry Gard J. Patrick Downing Betty Erickson Stanley & Carol Erickson Gary Jo Gardenhire Stanley & Mavis Graven Craig Gundersen James & Marlene Haller Ernest & Diane Hanson Pamela & Geoffrey Herman Mary Holland David Jelle Lois Johnson Joe & Peg Jopek Jean Kjellstrom Phyllis Koch Diane Lanker Greg & Jennifer Larson Kevin & Kyra Larson Randall Larson Wendell & Linda Larson Kiu Leung Pat & Jill Levenhagen Nancy Lorine Renee & Carl Makuch Marilyn Mason Jeff McCullough Patricia McKearn & Richard Smith Bill Murat Stanley & Nancy Nelson Darlene & Norman Olson Claudia Pogreba Angela & Martin Rodriguez Dr. & Mrs. James Roelke Robert & Nancy Rudd Gregory & Susan Samuels David & Carla Samuelson Ann & Frederick Seybold Jeremy & Ann Shea Betty Jo & Fintan So Dean & Mia Stier Stroud Willink & Howard LLC, Madison John Suby SVA Certified Public Accountants, Madison Anne Thompson Donald Tipple Barb & Steve Weber Al & Dale Wortley Betty Zana Harold Lindy Lindemann by Keith & Vicki Veldhuizen Ron Martin by Joanna Fanney Butch Siegel by Rod Bartlow Penny Bernard Schaber & Dale Schaber Dolly McNulty Christine Ulfig by Barbara Bell Karen Highland David Underwood by GE Foundation The Illumina Foundation Kevin Tipple Wisconsin Audubon Council 22 MAMMOTH tales Fall-Winter 2017

23 LINCOLN MARINETTE THANK YOU LANGLADE Medford Merrill Antigo to Our Generous Donors TAYLOR Marinette MENOMINEE June 13th September 26th, 2017 Wisco B A Y IN-KIND/PRO BONO Celtic, Inc, Milwaukee Crossroads Coffeehouse, Cross Plains DEW Signs & Custom Engraving, Black Earth ESRI, Redlands, CA Godfrey & Kahn S.C., Madison Roy & Sue Gromme Michael McArdle Dolly McNulty Microsoft Corporation Natural Ovens, Manitowoc Quarles & Brady LLP, Madison Schrieber Foods, Green Bay Cindy Sesolak Sitka Salmon, Galesburg, IL Tribe 9 Foods, Madison Swamplovers Foundation, Cross Plains Wigwam, Sheboygan Wilfert Farms, Two Rivers $54,000+ Anonymous $12,000-$15,000 Madison Gas & Electric Foundation REI, Sumner, WA $5,000 $7,000 Anonymous Patagonia, Reno, NV Marvin & Ruth (Rudie) Schuette Fund of the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin Lee & Jacqui Swanson $2,000 $3,500 Anonymous American Transmission Company, Waukesha Debbie Cervenka Deb & Tom Heier Land Trust Alliance, Washington, DC TransCanada Corporation $1,000 $1,700 Anonymous Thomas Ferrella Karen Helwig Patti Herman & Bill Welch John & Judith Hutchinson Marcy & Nathan Kempf John Mesching & Kris Jensen Buzz Meyer Charles & Carolyn Mowbray Bob Novy & Jan Froelich Rich Propp Anne M. Riendl Sitka Salmon, Galesburg, IL Maureen Skelton Ronald R. Smith & Paulette Walker Smith Tom & Bonnie Umhoefer Gerald Viste Wigwam, Sheboygan $500 $750 ABITEC Corporation, Janesville Barbara Bell Donald Berg Brady Corporation, Milwaukee Eric Daub Dale Eckstrom Dale & Joanna Fanney Geosyntec Consultants, Oak Brook, IL Joanne Kline Casey Madura Rob Malewicki Keith & Linda Murie Orthopaedic Associates of Wisconsin, Pewaukee Tim Powell Stephen & Barbara Romberger Richard, Laurie, Chris, Andrea & Haily Rubesch Mike & Barbara Wollmer $250 $450 Craig Benson Penny Bernard Schaber & Dale Schaber Lorraine Bradley Tom & Karen Brown David Cheever Thomas & Jean Choate Paul M. Christensen Chuck & Gloria Crary Jackie Czehno & John Singer Lisa & Mike DeLaney Jeff, Shelly & Ben Dohlby Tuncer Edil Benjamin Gallagher Stuart Hansen & Erica Eddy Karen Highland Sharon Hughes Jeff & Linda Huttenburg Juli Kaufmann Mohammad Kiarang Rosemary Kilbridge Michael & Kelli Ladwig Bob Lange William & Dori MacFarlane Mary Maselter Caryl & Stratton McAllister Jeff McCullough Dolly McNulty Shirley Miller Sara Mills & Steven Bauer New Vision Wilderness, Oconomowoc Andrea O Shea Gary & Hedda Patzke David Phillips Charles Poat Ken & Donna Pokora Elissa Richardson Glenn & Sherri Ritz David Rusch Ken Ladwig s many friends at the Tennessee Valley Authority Barbara J. Unger Lysianne Unruh & Jason Dorgan David & Karen Verhulst Wisconsin Audubon Council, Stevens Point TRAILBUILDING HIGHLIGHTS continued from page 14 The support crew, as always, was the backbone of the project. The first to get to work Tuesday afternoon and last to pack up on Sunday, this team, led by national award winning crew leader Thelma Johnson and IATA staff Brad Crary, kept the trail crews fueled with Thelma s signature menu. The untiring, and often behind the scenes work, of the entire support crew from sunrise to sunset is always appreciated by the entire Mobile Skills Crew volunteers. This project charged almost every trail crew with some manner of stone work. Many stone walls were installed on steep cross slope to support the edge of the trail. Finding the right rock for the space needed, whether from the surrounding landscape or in the trail itself, was not a problem. Our usual rock shopping was more like an all-you-can-dig smorgasbord. Another highlight of the event was the completion of a six-step rock staircase and a bench installed near an ephemeral pond. The hard work, and love for the trail, clearly shows in all the carefully crafted stonework. Incorporating the stone gifted by the Wisconsin glacier into the very essence of the trail allows the Ice Age Trail to fit naturally into the landscape and stand out as a premier hiking trail all at the same time. Fall-Winter 2017 MAMMOTH tales 23

24 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Milwaukee, WI Permit # Main Street PO Box 128 Cross Plains, WI TRAIL terminus Trailtessas of the Ice Age Trail Alliance Our organization is filled with women who quietly go about being extraordinary Forces of Nature. Beginning with our President of the Board of Directors to our Camp Chefs, Chapter Leaders, Crew Leaders, office volunteers and trailbuilding crew members, you handily lead the way. Your willingness to get involved and get dirty for a cause inspires us. Thank you Denise Lorenz, volunteer of a Ringle Segment trailbuilding crew, tamps down fresh tread as part of the finishing touch of the fourstep trailbuilding process. Photo by Cameron Gillie of ThePinHoleThing.com. 2. Rita Fox and Janis Ringhand carefully spacing tread boards as they secure them on the boardwalk. Photo by Dave Caliebe. 3. Rachel Roberts, in her chainsaw safety gear, is ready to fell trees along a trail corridor. Photo by Joanne Ellarson. 4. Invasives tremble when Barbara Wollmer, in her chainsaw safety gear, sets out to clear trail corridor. Photo by Joanne Ellarson. 5. Dolly McNulty successfully pops a rock on the Ringle Segment trailbuilding project. Photo by Cameron Gillie of ThePinHoleThing.com. 6. Thelma Johnson in her happy place, at the helm of the camp kitchen, makes stirring up gravy for a 100 people look easy. Photo by Cameron Gillie of ThePinHoleThing.com